i'm in the middle of trying to change my oil for the first time and i noticed that there isn't room to both jack up the car and slide the stand underneath it. Has anyone done so successfully or am I forced to spend $75 for an oil change? I don't have ramps and the mini looks too low for that anyway. thanks in advance.
I've done a number of MINI oil changes with the car virtually sitting on the ground - no need to lift it up. Actually I park the front tires on a pair of 2X4 boards and that 2 inch extra height is all the height I need to slide the oil catch pan under the engine.
Of course the oil filter is accessed from the top of the engine, so other than reaching the drain plug from the front of the car (very easy) and positioning the catch pan, there's no need to raise it up at all.
+ 2002 MINI Cooper S - Dark Silver / White roof, Sport, Premium, Lapis blue leather
+ 1965 Mini Traveller - Tartan Red / White roof, 1275, Cooper S discs, fully restored/renewed
Rhino Ramps work well. Several folks here have them.
I built a mini ramp out of 4x4. I drive one side up on the curb and the other on my ramp. Works fine.
I thought people life Mini up with their left hand and unscrew the oil plug nut with their right hand. Of course, Americans will do it with our head tilted so we can be talking on cellphone at the same.
Yes, I know. When I was posting I actually thought about saying 1.5" from the 2X4 is high enough, but I was thinking that would confuse people.
Anyway, I'll repeat that ramps are not needed at all for a simple oil change, in fact a lift of just 1.5 inches works great for me.
+ 2002 MINI Cooper S - Dark Silver / White roof, Sport, Premium, Lapis blue leather
+ 1965 Mini Traveller - Tartan Red / White roof, 1275, Cooper S discs, fully restored/renewed
I went to rotate my tires and jacked up the back to remove the rear tire. I put a jackstand just forward of the jack point and jacked up the front. As the front came up, the rear came off the jackstand, so the entire side of the car was balanced on the little jack. I quickly removed and replaced the front tire and got it off the jack. They really do need to provide jack pads. I do not understand what everyone else was using, an integrated jack/stand unit?
BruceK is right, you can basically just reach right up under the bumper, and there's the plug. Depending on what you're using to catch the oil, though, it can help to have a little clearance for sliding a pan in & out under there.
In any case, for those of you wondering about ramps, I can assure you the MINI has plenty of clearance for them, if you have ramps with low-rise extensions. I routinely use them with Buzz (the Mini), and have never had a problem.
Photographic proof:
As our driveway slopes slightly away from the garage, it's even better, since we wind up not only with the car nearly level, but a very generous amount of space in front. Makes getting up under the car quite easy.
Of course, if you're on a slope steep enough that it puts the outer leg of the ramps near or past vertical, DO NOT DO THIS. Doing so could be quite bad for the car, and incredibly bad for you. If you don't know why, go back to Basic Physical Science 1.
I Just bought a pair of RHINO ramps today at SEARS, for only $19.95 they worked very well, your also going to need a 36mm socket for the oil filter, and a 13mm wrench for the oil plug. also available from SEARS, I ended up spending a total of $41.10 for all three.
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When I was posting I actually thought about saying 1.5" from the 2X4 is high enough, but I was thinking that would confuse people. 
Mini), and have never had a problem.
